TCMU – Let Hope Rise

Directed by Michael John Warren, the film captures the “on-stage energy and off stage heart” of the Australian group, UNITED.

“So why a film about an Aussie Christian band”, I hear you say!

Well, it’s no exaggeration to say that UNITED is one of the most influential acts in the world… not just in Christian music.

They’ve reportedly sold more albums than Lady Antebellum, about the same number as the Jonas Brothers, and they aren’t trailing Miley Cyrus by all that much.

USA Today says their sound, musicianship and overall vibe is reminiscent of Coldplay. And they basically own a day of the week – Sunday – when music industry estimates put the number of people singing at least one of their songs somewhere in the world each week at 50 million. That’s double the number of songs iTunes sells on a given day!

But the impact the music of Hillsong has on the world can’t be measured in sales numbers or critical accolades.

Yes, they’ve been responsible for several hits – Say the Word, Touch the Sky, Relentless, Hosanna, Point Of Difference, Lead Me To The Cross, and Search My Heart.

Not forgetting their best known tune Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) which spent a year atop Billboard’s Christian Songs chart, and earned Song Of the Year honors at the Dove Awards – the Grammys of Christian music.

But there’s something deeper going on…

Hillsong – Let Hope Rise releases in Australia on Thursday October 6.

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In other news…

Jamie Grace says she’s looking forward to going grey. The 24-year old recently posted that she’s found two grey hairs in her head. She told her fans that she’s “so excited” and hopes the grey hairs “stay and invite their friends”!

Jordan Feliz says he switched from being a drummer to becoming a singer on the day the worship leader didn’t show up. The video to his song Never Too Far Gone has just been released on YouTube.

Moriah Peters is doing some modelling in LA this week, meanwhile her husband Joel Smallbone has celebrated the release day of Priceless – the novel by videoing himself purchasing a copy at his local Costco!

And Big Daddy Weave member Jason Weaver joined the rest of the band onstage last week for his first appearance since having both feet amputated to stop a devastating infection. The appearance took place at the Christian Music Broadcasters Momentum Conference where Big Daddy Weave received the “Rich Mullins Impact Award.” The band shared a photo on social media as their bass player sat on stage in a wheelchair and received a long, loud standing ovation. Jason is still recovering from the amputation earlier this year, but his brother Mike Weaver, the front man of the band, says they still hope he will eventually be able to return to the band.